Today's News

Dr. Barry Beasley is the new executive director of the Lancaster-based Katawba Valley Land Trust.
Beasley succeeds Dr. Austin Jenkins as director of the trust. Jenkins left the post in August to begin teaching at the university level.
“We are indeed fortunate to have found such a well-qualified and gifted individual to lead us into the future,” said Lindsay Pettus, president of the land trust. “We are excited to expand our efforts to protect natural and cultural resources and to share our story with the communities we serve.”

A Lancaster man was charged Wednesday, four days after authorities say he accidentally shot a man Saturday in Heath Springs.
Cameron Leroy Maier, 20, of 4424 Fletcher Funderburk Road, Lancaster, turned himself in to deputies at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Deputies responded early Saturday morning to a shooting at a field located near 1079 Wendover Road. There they found Thomas Sutter, 20, of Lancaster had been shot in the back during a bonfire and party, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

He served as treasurer since 2000, when he filled the unfinished term of Mary Alice Belk. His father, Richard Rowell, served as Lancaster County treasurer for 20 years. Rowell Jr. was 12 when his father first ran for the treasurer's office.

As helicopters buzzed overhead, deputies and first responders arrived at the scene of a double shooting on Shiloh Unity Road Thursday afternoon.
The shooting involved three family members – Spoffard James Evans, 41; his father, Dwight Spencer Evans, 65, both of 3522 Shiloh Unity Road, and Jataune Tyrone Richardson, 34, of 3546 Shiloh Unity Road, according to a sheriff’s office press release. Richardson is the son-in-law of the senior Evans.

On cold winter days when the mercury hovers around the freezing mark, it’s hard to top a warm meal to break the chill.
When a slow cooker does all the work, a hearty, satisfying and wholesome family dinner doesn’t require tons of work.
Once the ingredients are in place, it’s as simple as closing the lid and walking away.
A green salad and some fresh bread and something from the slow cooker has all the makings of a great meal.

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, residents of Indian Land Fire District will have the opportunity to let Lancaster County Council know whether they want to pay an extra $75 each year for enhanced fire protection.
The fee would help Indian Land Volunteer Fire Department pay for permanent improvements and capital expenditures, including buildings, equipment, infrastructure, full-time firefighters and more.

It’s often said that the New Year is a time for new beginnings, an opportunity for fresh starts. Typically we vow to exercise more, eat less, spend a little less time at work, develop new skills or set some other worthy goal.
For South Carolina’s elected leaders, perhaps the New Year presents us an opportunity to step back, reflect on the true meaning of public service and evaluate how we can make our state a better place to live.